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The effect of extrusion conditions, including feed rate (2.52-6.84 kg/h), feed moisture content (13-19% wet basis), screw speed (150-250 rpm), and extrusion temperature (150-230°C) on structural properties of corn-legume based extrudates was studied. Four different types of legumes, chickpea, mexican bean, white bean, and lentil were used to form mixtures with corn flour in a ratio ranging from 10 to 90% (corn/legume). A simple power model was used to correlate porosity with extrusion conditions and material characteristics. The influence of feed rate in the extrudates porosity is incorporated into mean residence time. Porosity of extrudates was found to increase with temperature and residence time and to decrease with feed moisture content and corn to legume ratio. Screw speed did not affect extrudates properties. Expansion ratio showed a similar behavior with porosity. The addition of legumes (protein source) led to more dense products. Comparatively, the usage of white bean in mixtures for the production of snacks, led to a product with higher porosity than those with other legumes.

Phenolic content, antioxidant activity and sensory characteristics of vegetable-enriched extrudates were investigated as a result of extrusion conditions, including extrusion temperature (140-180 °C), screw rotation speed (150-250 rpm) and feed moisture content (14-19 % w.b.). Broccoli flour and olive paste was used in mixtures with corn flour at a ratio of 4 to 10 % (broccoli/corn) and 4 to 8 % (olive paste/corn). A simple power model was developed for the prediction of phenolic content and antioxidant activity of extrudates by extrusion conditions and feed composition. Phenolic content and antioxidant activity of broccoli enriched extrudates increased with extrusion temperature and broccoli addition and decreased with feed moisture content. The antioxidant activity of olive paste extrudates increased with material ratio and decreased with feed moisture content and screw rotation. Sensory porosity, homogenous structure, crispness, cohesiveness and melting decreased with feed moisture content, while the latter increased the mealy flavor and hardness of extrudates. Acceptable snacks containing broccoli flour or olive paste can be produced by selecting the appropriate process conditions.

The classical problem of heat recovery from convective dryer exhaust air is considered under modern easy-to-programming techniques towards effective decision making environment. Heat exchangers as well as heat pumps are considered versus various dryer performance characteristics.

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